Twentieth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

This study assesses the degree of adequacy of the national policies, strategies and legal framework in relation with sustainable waste management for Mauritius. To attain this aim, the Wasteaware Benchmark Indicator ‘Adequacy of national framework for solid waste management’ is analysed through a critical evaluation of data from formal sources. The results demonstrate a MEDIUM compliance level, with an overall score of 54% for the afore-stated indicator. The main strengths engendering this score comprise the presence of well-defined government-approved national strategies for waste management aligned with the concept of circularity and sustainability, whose implementation fall within the responsibility of a dedicated National entity, and adequate enforcement of the currently applicable legislations related to waste management. However, major weaknesses which hinder a higher score from being achieved are the lack of a legislative framework dedicated solely to waste management that has already moved to implementation, the absence of enactments which reflect all of the planned waste management undertakings as per the current strategies, the lack of implementable regulations for Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship and the absence of a regulatory framework to ensure that waste management sites are constructed while considering the aspects of environmental justice and equity in view of avoiding the siting of such facilities solely in lower income areas. The main enhancements recommended are drafting of waste-dedicated regulations to reflect the current national strategies and driving the implementation of such regulations through sensitization and incentives.